Get to Know Drew Carey’s Wealth and Earnings
Discover all about the net worth and salary of Drew Carey, the well-known American actor, comedian, and TV host, whose wealth is estimated to be $165 million. Drew Carey gained fame for his role in “The Drew Carey Show” and as the host of “The Price is Right.” During his time on The Drew Carey Show, he was among the highest-paid entertainers globally, with earnings equivalent to $1 million per episode after adjusting for inflation. The show, set in Cleveland, where he grew up, became popular for its humor, heart, and realistic depiction of daily life, with Drew playing a character based on himself. His amiable personality and comedic timing made the show a favorite among viewers, securing his place in television history.
In addition to scripted comedy, Drew Carey made significant contributions to improvisational comedy with “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” as the host, playing a vital role in the show’s success in the US. The show featured improv comedians performing skits, songs, and games, often resulting in hilarious moments.
Having established himself in comedy and sitcoms, Carey ventured into game show hosting, taking over as the host of “The Price Is Right” from the iconic Bob Barker. Initially, fans were curious about how Carey would fit into Barker’s big shoes, but he quickly made the role his own, combining respect for the show’s traditions with his unique comedic flair.
Besides his television work, Drew Carey has been a proponent of various causes and has a keen interest in sports, particularly soccer, as a minority owner of Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC. Carey has owned a 7.5% share in the Seattle Sounders since the team’s inception. Presently, the Sounders are valued at approximately $700 million.
Salary from The Price is Right
Drew’s annual income from hosting “The Price Is Right” amounts to $12.5 million, placing him among the top 20 highest-paid TV hosts globally.
Early Years and Career Start
Drew Allison Carey, born on May 23, 1958, grew up as the youngest of three sons in Cleveland, Ohio. His father passed away from a heart attack when Drew was eight years old. Drew graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School in 1975, where he was part of the marching band playing the trumpet. He pursued higher education at Kent State University, where he faced expulsion twice due to poor academic performance, eventually leaving the college after three years to join the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1980, serving as a field radio operator in Ohio for six years.
In 1985, he embarked on his comedy journey after a friend suggested borrowing joke-writing books from the library. By 1986, after winning an open mic contest, he became the Master of Ceremonies at the Cleveland Comedy Club. Over the subsequent years, he performed at comedy clubs in Cleveland and Los Angeles.
Exploring Improv and Acting
Carey gained national fame as a comedian with his appearances on the 1988 show “Star Search,” followed by spots on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” His first stand-up comedy special, “Drew Carey: Human Cartoon,” was aired on Showtime in 1994, winning him a CableACE Award for Best Writing. His success in stand-up comedy paved the way for supporting roles in TV shows and films like “Coneheads” (1993) and the sitcom “The Good Life” (1994).
Together with writer Bruce Helford, Carey developed the concept for “The Drew Carey Show,” a sitcom focusing on a fictionalized version of his story.In September 1995, a new version of Carey premiered on ABC. Its first few seasons enjoyed high ratings; however, the show was eventually canceled due to declining ratings and increasing production costs (around $3 million per episode). Over its nine-year run, it accumulated a total of 233 episodes.
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During his time on “The Drew Carey Show,” he also ventured into other projects, such as the improvisational comedy show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” in 1998. In this show, he took on a dual role as a host and participant, announcing improv guests, directing games, and frequently participating in the final game of each episode. The show aired for 220 episodes until its cancellation in 2006. Additionally, he co-produced and starred in “Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show,” a spin-off of “Whose Line?”, which was initially canceled by the WB but later picked up by Comedy Central. Expanding on the success of “Whose Line?”, he hosted the primetime improv show “Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza,” filmed at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. This show followed a similar format to “Whose Line?” and featured many of the same performers engaging in improv based on audience suggestions. In 2023, it was announced that Carey would be featured in a four-episode documentary titled “The Game Show Show,” exploring the history of game shows in America.
Drew Carey Show Salary and Earnings
During his peak, Drew Carey was among the highest-paid entertainers globally. In 1998, he earned $45 million from various projects, equivalent to around $70 million today when adjusted for inflation. Between 2001 and 2004, Carey earned $750,000 per episode of “The Drew Carey Show,” which would be approximately $1 million per episode in today’s terms. He starred in 79 episodes at that rate, amounting to $59,250,000 (before adjusting for inflation) for the final three seasons. For hosting “The Price is Right,” he earns $12.5 million yearly, securing a position as one of the 20 highest-paid TV hosts worldwide.
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Hosting Career
His foray into hosting game shows began in 2007, starting with the CBS game show pilot “Power of 10” (August 2007-January 2008). Following the taping of the pilot episode of “Power of 10,” CBS reached out to Carey with the opportunity to replace Bob Barker as the host of “The Price Is Right.” His first “The Price” episode was recorded in August 2007, and the episodes began airing in October of the same year. In 2017, Carey marked his 10th anniversary as the host of the show, alongside Bob Barker as one of the only two hosts to reach this milestone.
Business Ventures and Other Pursuits
His first endeavors in commercials
Seattle Sounders Investment
Drew Carey bought a 7.5% stake in the Seattle Sounders F.C. Major League Soccer team as an early investor. His undisclosed investment was made around the team’s inception. In June 2022, a new investor acquired a 3 to 5% stake in the Sounders from another partner, valuing the team at $680 million. This new investor’s purchase made Drew Carey’s stake worth $51 million at his 7.5% ownership.
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Personal Life
Drew Carey was engaged to Nicole Jaracz from 2007 to 2012. In January 2018, he announced his engagement to sex therapist Amie Harwick, but the couple called off the engagement later in the same year. Tragically, in February 2020, Harwick was found dead in Hollywood Hills, and her ex-boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of her murder.
His significant net worth comes from his years in comedy, television, and game shows. Aside from his professional success, Carey is known for his support of public libraries through donations of time and money. Interestingly, despite his passion for libraries, he is an outspoken member of the Libertarian party, advocating for limited government and lower taxes. Nevertheless, to most viewers, Drew Carey continues to be the affable figure with his iconic glasses and slightly nervous demeanor on screen.
Data for 2023 and 2024 with projected figures for 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Drew Carey Net Worth (Money & Salary)